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"You h voice cae, dark-faced, scarred man loomed far too close, and she stunized him as one of the construction crew, the icy fear refused to abate, forcing her to retreat another step She couldn’t think--

"I’m Nolan Saw you at the club" He stood with Sam’s quiet patience His face even held the same "panic if you need to, I’ll wait" expression

The club? Of course The subs at the Shadowlands had pointed hiallop as she realized this was the Do back Up close, he was even"I’m sorry You startled me and I--"Was afraid you were a slaver Uuys, although rin came and went so fast she wasn’t sure she’d seen it "Beth said she was going to have lunch with you today"

Just shoot me now Beth had even said her husband was the contractor here Linda smiled and held out her hand "It’s nice to ently Like Sath

And like Saated to hold up his side of a conversation At a loss, she said, "So you belong to Beth?"

The corner of his mouth turned up "I see it as the other way around"

Linda felt herself turn red The guy was a Dom Duh, Linda

To her relief, Saot out

Her heart lifted higher as each of his long strides brought him closer

"I didn’t expect you this soon," he said She had a moment of worry that he wasn’t happy to see her before he yanked her onto her toes for a kiss Hard hands, de her against his side, he gave his dog a quick pat and greeted Nolan "How’s it going?"

Nolan’s gaze touched her He looked as if he was al before he answered Sam, "Ahead of schedule" He checked his watch and turned to yell at his crew, "Day’s over Finish up"

The cheers made the horses in the pasture trot to the far end

Nolan turned back to tell Sa to Linda, he rejoined his gang

She shook her head A wo man Beth was braver than she looked

Sam curved his hand over her hip "I’d like a beer, a rip increased to the point of pain, she gasped, feeling everything shiver and loosen inside "Well, I--"

His eyes crinkled "Yeah, we could go straight to sex"

Her heart acquired the saun "I suppose"

"Suppose?" He yanked her head back, holding her easily so she stared up into his light eyes "Try again, ? Never Ever A nasty buzz like athe insides of her head "Slut, you want food? Beg for it" As coldness shot through her, she struggled against his grip

Sahtly on her shoulder Not gripping Palht hers

As the buzzing in her head decreased and died away, she shuddered

"Well" He put one finger under her chin and tilted her head up "Bad reaction What set you off?"

The lack of emotion in his voice helped dispel the last of her fear and fury and even s "I…don’t like the word Beg"

His eyebrows, a shade darker than his steel-gray hair, lifted in inquiry "Why?"

"The Overseer"--the slaver Ki To eat To use the bathroorowled "And if you didn’t beg, he’d hurt you If you did, it would never be enough"

He knew Understood She closed her eyes and nodded